Apparatus for minimizing friction and vibration of rotor elements



-, Sept. 8, 1936. .E. KLAHN 2,054,055

APPARATUS FOR MINIMIZVING FRICTION AND 'VIBRATION OF ROTOR ELEMENTS Filed April 25, 195s Ll ,I

INVENTOR- EM/L KLA HN BYi5 ATTORNEY- Patented Sept. 8, 1936 eieii UNITED STATES PATENT oF-Fics APPARATUS FOR MINIMIZ'NGFRICTION AND VIBRATION F ROTR'ELEMENTS `Emil Klahn, New Vernon,v-,N. J.; -JollarlnaMargaret Percival administratrix of said iEmil Klahn, deceased Application April 25, 1933, Seliual ,N9- 66-7-,814

13 Claims. (Cl.

The .invention relates to the reduction of fricthat is .to v.sami-to overcome the weight of the tion in bearing constructions and to the producfermer or counteract gravityaction thereon. tion of substantially vibrationless rotor elements. -In/.ths connection, it is to be .furtherunder- Among the ,objects of the invention is the prostoodthat `to secure the elimination of friction vision of .means for `introducing a compressed the operating pressure of the .gasfneedbebnly gaseous medium between a rotor element and an slightly iin -eXceSS Q ,that fiqlilfed 15.0261358613 the associated stator element in sucha manner that aforesaidgseparationof theelements The gaseasubstantially irictionless rotation therebetween ous-medium, after -flowing outof y-theririiepr is assured without any other lubrication, since distributing recess, is caused to -flovv.there,from

l0 allametal-.to-metal contactvtherebetween is elimiall .over the periphery ,ci the `suppOri'lirig member, nate-d. expanding-in thefsraduallvenlarsingspace af.-

-Another object Aof the invention resides in the iorded in #the slig-h-t andeccentric separation of particular and novelmanner of distributing the the `elements and until said medium arrives,.for compressed gaseous medium whereby a diiierenexample, at the underside of the `vsupporting 15 tial thrust is obtained thereby enabling rotation member wheregprovision ismade for cexhausting 1.5 of the rotor element, the said gaseous medium the-spentgaseousenedium to the atmosphereas serving ralso to accomplish the substantial elimiat-,t'he endsof the supported member. Intermenation of friction between thetwo said elements. diateA discharge of thexllfndng-gasems medllm y'Stil-1 another object of the invention resides in may alsobeefiected, ii-desired, by providing ad,-

the novel method of balancing a rotor element ditieial .discharge ,grooves or.,ch annelsang,ula rly 20 by the use of the novel bearing construction. displaced from` thedistribution recess.

In practicing the invention, provision is made By providing a distribution recess or Lgroeve for a stator and a movableor rotor element which designed, asl-iereinafiter described, tQ-diSlriibikte are associated with each other fork relative rotaagreater volume Qfthe gaseous mediuml from .one

tion; andone of these elements .constituting the side than uponfthe'othen it is-possible toset up 245 Supporting member is provided With-an'axial duct a differential pressage or thrust whichmay be forvfthe admission of a suitable. .compressed -g-ase caused to impart rotdtionalmovement to the-roous medium and distribution of, thesame in the tor elenfrent of'vthe bearing device, l*the Speed-,0fnovel manner `inthe tor-moi a separating layer rotation beingpropprtional tothe pressure ,of the 30. or lfi lm-,betw.een. the surfaces of the twoselements, gaseous med msuppliedin excess vl,of that rre.- 30 which are Ain contact when at-rest, whereby fricme nieta-l-to-metal contact Aof tion between A,the two coacting surfaces is elimi.- the :enacting members. nated .for al1 praeticaipurposes. A Ef,l?linthermore, Awhere the bearing devieefislfliiely ,To ,this end,r,a radial port affords communicato Abe 1 Subjected to considerable external Nibration from the axial duct to the uppermostportion, cushioningpockets or-reeeiving-andpoelet- 35 tion -of the periphery of the corresponding eleing :a rpolttell eoffl'fhefggas may be lprovided over ment and:discharges the gaseous medium into a the `peripht-:ry of the supporting member, vor the preferably :longitudinal :exposed Y.distr-butine resupported m ember,-orboth cess provided, adjaently the port Orifice, in the AThe ,device herein fdescribed Eis peculiarly 40 periphery of the said gasfsupplvine stator y,eleadapted foraccomplishing-thepractically nerect 4.9;

ment. This ,distribution recess'under inoperative balancing of rotors such, "fer -examp1e,,aspro conditions is isealed under the action of gravity peuerslfly Wheelsfshait armatureglgyroscopes, P911 'the -Coactng Suppofed member :and-Such turbine rotorsfetc., as .wellas scale rarmsand the recess is so designed that `in operation the voutiiow mm of fgasecus medium therefrom Shan be so re' `Thesnatureof the invention however willbest strcted that there Wm be no equalization '0i' pres' beunderstood when describedin connection-with sure throughout the space between the ,two` eleth c "m' aymg mvg/img" in Whh.' ments; ibut, on the contrary, the y.pressure on the e a p l' )1" 'f b ,l different areas of `.the:supportedelement:are un- Y-F-lg' 1 'ls-1a' fraigmen 'ar-Yip anvlew o: a a. an

apparatus, `as .one embodiment of my levering, e

50 equal. Y Y

Moreover,the :separating P lrn develops Yonly 90mm'fphereofbemg Show-'n "m longl-mdmlsec' when-the pressure lof this gaseous medium `issuiiitOIin cient, :a5 4applied over the area of the orice or .,Etg. .2,1Sxa .trllsverseseetwll inkel! .1.013 he 1.1.1.1@ distributing recess, Eto lifttoiy or separate the sup- L12., Eig-1l .QfV $118. :df-@Wingported .,-cmember from :the supporting member, :Eig .341s arlan View..ofibesuancrtineemembcr 5,5

of the novel bearing device, and illustrates a modification.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section therethrough taken on the line 4 4, Fig. 3 of the drawing.

Fig. 5 is a similar transverse section illustrating a modification.

Referring to the drawing, more especially Figs. l and 2 thereof, the particular embodiment of the invention shown therein is for the purpose of effecting a proper balancing, say of a rotor such as a propeller member having the hub I0 and arms II and I2, the hub for this purpose being shown as keyed to a rotor element as the sleeve or bushing I3 adapted to be supported by the stator element or supporting member, las the spindle I4. The latter is rigidly supported, for example, on a frame member I 5 through a connection IB suitable for supplying the gaseous medium Vunder the required pressure. This medium is arranged, through the connection I6, to be introduced axially to the stator I4 which, to this end, is provided with an axial duct I'I. The duct I'I in turn communicates with a radially disposed port I8 extending to the uppermost portion of the periphery of the stator I4, and terminates preferably in a distribution groove I9 provided longitudinally in the periphery thereof and adjacent the orice of the port. The area of this groove is so proportioned in conformity with the pressure of the gas supplied through port I8 that the supported member, in this instance the rotor I 3 which, when there is no gas applied, rests under its own weight over the said groove to seal off the same, will be only slightly raised by the intervening jet of gas, as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawing (on a greatly exaggerated scale). This causes the supplied gas to be distributed over the periphery of stator I4 and in opposite directions from the groove I9 therein, the action then being independent of any increase of pressure which would merely cause additional volume and increaseV of flow between the two elements.

Having so located on the supported member or bushing I3 the selected rotor-to be balanced, the

air is introduced under suflicient pressure to effect the slight separation of such bushing from the supporting member or spindle I4 on which it rests. Thereupon, the selected rotor will assume or remain in a position with'its heaviest portion at the lowest point, or in the plumbline. The rotor is then corrected or compensated in the usual manner until it remains stationary in any position in which it is set, thereby bringing its center of gravity coincident with its center of rotation and so eliminating vibration of the rotor when in use. By this method a perfect balance of a rotor element, such as a propeller, fly wheel, etc., can be accomplished and by an inexperienced operator; whereas in all cases in which mechanical bearings heretofore known are employed for the purpose of balancing a rotor, accurate balancing thereof is impossible due to the limitation resulting from the inherent friction of such bearings.

In the construction of the stator and rotor elements, it is desirable that careful machining of the same is secured so that but a few thousandths of an inch diierence in diameters shall be had, say, .002 inch, in order that the flow of the escaping gas be sufliciently impeded and retarded to provide time for proper expansion toward the discharge and to effect the necessary aforesaid unequal pressure distribution in the intervening space. As a specific example, I have found that this difference in diameters between a stator and a rotor, in which the former is of 1/2" diameter,

should desirably be less than 0.003 of an inch and between 0.001 and 0.0015 has been found to give excellent results.

Furthermore, if the difference is excessive, an unnecessary and uneconomical volume of gas is required for operation. The amount supplied need be suilcient only to allow an appreciable lubricating flow through a diameter differential of say at least 0.00075 which is about the lowest possible from a practical economical machining standpoint.

The orifice of the radial port is preferably also of relatively small diameter, say in the present instance .0l inch, for if the same be made much larger, undue and objectionable vibration of the parts results.

Also, for economical use of the gas and effective operation, the expansion must be gradual, and it will be observed, Fig. 2 of the drawing, that, under these conditions where the separation at the orifice is but slight, an eccentric relationship exists between the supporting and supported member whereby the space between their two coacting surfaces is of progressively increasing volume toward the underside so that the pressure thereof progressively drops.

This decrease in pressure may be further enhanced by the provision of a plurality of transverse expansion grooves 20 located in the underside of the periphery of the supporting member transversely to its length. For exhausting the spent gas from the underside of the said suppporting member, a longitudinal outlet groove 2| is provided therein at right angles to grooves 20, the same extending to the ends of the supported member or bushing I3 which is held on the supporting member I4 by suitable collars 22 and 23, as shown in Fig. 1. The latter, to assist in the discharge of the spent gas may be provided with recesses 24 and 24', respectively, in their inner faces and of a diameter exceeding that of the supporting member, said pockets serving at the same time as pneumatic end-thrust bearings.

Instead of the transverse expansion grooves indicated in Figs. l and 2, expansion of the gas may be enhanced by the provision of a series of longitudinal grooves 25, Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing, and located between the distributing groove 26 of the supporting spindle 21, the said intermediate grooves as well as the bottom groove 28 continuing longitudinally of the periphery of the spindle to the ends of the coacting supported member 29 and serving thereby also as an outlet or discharge grooves for affording a greater pressure at the upper half of the spindle than at the lower half. It will be understood, of course, that all grooves and like expedients. may be eliminated as the gas in any event will exhaust itself through the space at the ends of the supported member.

Where the coacting bearing elements are subjected to external vibration, a plurality of recesses or pockets 30 may be provided in the surface of the spindle 21 (or its coacting supported member, or both) to pocket a portion of the gas and aiord thereby pneumatic cushions, serving to prevent metal-to-metal contact.

If it be desired to effect rotation of the rotatable element or rotor member of the novel combination, the gas supplied for substantial elimination of the friction therebetween may serve also to provide the motive force for this rotation. Thus, reference being had to Fig. 5 of the drawing, the supporting spindle 35 is provided with the axial duct 36 for supplying the gas under a pressure,-Suiiicientdnotik only for rthetelminationiof friction :.aioresaid, .but to provide also zthe motivezpower. Thefduct i6, :asin :the previously describediembodiments, communicatesithrough za mrlialgportfl 'with-:a distributing-groove. ,prowlded ilongitndinaliy rof .the periphery of .the spindlefand expansion ducts .f39 may beprovided longitudinally over .thesremaining Asurface of the spindle as :inzthe :embodiment `shown in Figs. `3 and 4.

tHowever, with respect Vto a the Adistributing groove y.'8,;pr.ovision 1 is `'made foreeiecting 1a :differential-discharge or 4distribution of :the gas Whendzhe:supportedv member .separates from its enacting supporting member. Thus,.the one :wall 48 fof the-groove .38 is .constructed of .a ygreater height than .the'opposite `longitudinal wall 4-I (which-inthe present'instanceis shownzas of zero height) so that Va.greateroutflow of :the .supplied gasattheside correspondingfito wall '4I will result'onthe.oriceiFigsrand 4, mayibe displaced .to A.one v:side of the median v'line of its groove li2B,- .or1both expedients lmay :be resorted to. lhisgcauseszan ,unequal :pressure :distribution and opposite :unequal thrusts, resulting in the rotation of the supported member :2-9 in the direction-2:01 thevarrow.; midget-the same time, the gas distributed :servesito` eliminate vsubstantially friction between the coacting elements as hereinbeforeadescribed. `It will be understood, of

coursefthat-if thespee'd of `rotation is ztobe increased, ;itz is ynecessary'.merely to .provide `the gas under .aggreater pressure; andv that this :will in no wise aiect .the friction elimination.

:1. A bearing xdevice, :comprising :a `rotor Velement andfafstatoraelement, .one vof said elements constituting va supporting :member .for the other element vwitha difference -in 'adiametersnot .ex-

ceedingia few thousandths of an inch, the said stator being 'provided with la longitudinally `extending yduct tor Asupplying -a :gas under .pressure and with a lateral discharge port` on its peripheryiinrcommunication with said duct, and meanszon-the oppositev-side -of vsaid stator member fromrthatofi'said exhaust-portier relieving the pressure or-suchgas below rthat of such inlet pressure fwhereby -*gas discharged from the port will separate-'the two elements and be distributed therebetween with =-its1vo1ume increasing progressively'toward thefurrder sidef'of the stator and will-exhaustffreely into the atmosphere.

idk-'bearing device, `comprising a vrotor zelementvand a s'tator-el-ementfone of said elements constitutin-gfa supporting :memberfor the other element'with-a difference in diameters not exceeding :a fewthousandths of andnch, and the said :stator "being provided with 1a longitudinally extending lduct `'forsupplying a gas under pressure and with a` lateral discharge :portonits periphery in communication with said duct, whereby-gas-f'discharged from the port will separate the two elements and be distributed therebetween with its volume increasing progressively toward the under side of the stator, a discharge groove being provided longitudinally in the periphery of said stator along its under side and extending respectively to the ends of the rotor and which discharge groove is in free communication with the external atmosphere.

3. A bearing device, comprising a rotor element and a stator element, one of said elementsconstituting a supporting member for the other element with a difference in diameters not exceeding a few thousandths of an inch, and the said stator being izprovided within ,longitudinally :extending duct fior supplying aigasiunderpressuretandrwith alongitudinallyextending ductiior'asupplyingegas underzpressure and .witha lateraL-discharge .port in-'itszperipheryincornnmnicationfwith said duct, whereby gas vdischarged'from the .port will sepav rate :the two .elements and-be distributed there y between a with 1 its :volume increasing .progressively toward .the undersideof the stator, and collars on Lthe lsupporting member fat .opposite .fendsaof the rotoror retaining lthe latter .fagainst i-endwise movementisaid .collars ibeing'rprovided--iover their respective :inner ,surfaces .with :recesses ;forethe spentigas.

4. A bearing eleme t, comprising a rotonele'- ment and Ya `lstator element, 'one `of said elements constituting a supporting member lfor-'the :other element lwith a'differencein.diameters1not;exceed ing a-few'.thousandths of an finch, andthesaid stator being provided with ;alongitudinally ex-- tending :duct .for'supplying agas under pressure andwith a longitudinally extending duct fonsupplying-gas .under pressure `and with a lateral discharge Yport inlits :periphery :in cornrnuriication ,withY said duct, and the/peripheryfof l,the stator having sa longitudinalfgroove:receiving gas from saidsport and'of. an area relative .toltl'ie mressure of thegas tolift the `rotorslightly:oii .thestator whereby :gas .f'discharged from Vthe lportffwill .-separate '.the vtwo elements and. be distributedtherebetween .with it volume'increasing progressively toward the underside ofthe stator. i

`5. VA bearing device, f comprising :a `'rotor :clelment zand. a `stator element, one of Isaid elements constituting fassupporting lmember @for the other element with a diierence in diameters-not exceedingfa fewlthousandths of vanfinc'h, and-'the said stator fbeing .provided with ak longitudinally extending ductfforrsupplying `a.' gas under pressure an-dzwith alongitudinally extending duct for supplying :gas f under pressure Tand with a lateral discharge port in its .periphery in communica tion with said duct, whereby gas discharged from thefport will.` separatethe two -elementsand .be distributed therebetween -with its volume increasing progressively toward the under side vo'f ythe stator, :a discharge groove being provided longitudinally :inthe periphery of said stator along its vunderside to the ends of the =rotor,andf-trans verse-expansion grooves being `provided over the undery surface of the stator and communicating with its longitudinal :discharge groove.

:6.IA: bearingdevicepcomprising a rotor element anda stator element, one f of said elements constitutinga' supporting member for the other element with a diierenoein/diameters fnot'exceeding aewthousandths of an inch, and the said stator being `provided with 4a. longitudinallyrextending duct for supplying a gas under pressure and with a'longitudinally extending duct for supplyinglgas under `pressure and fwithfa lateral discharge por-t in ritsperiphery in communication withsaid duct, whereby gas discharged from the port will separate the two elements and be distributed therebetween with its Volume increasing progressively toward the under side of the stator, a discharge groove being provided longitudinally in the periphery of said stator along its under side to the ends of the rotor, and longitudinal expansion grooves being provided in the periphery of said stator intermediate the orice of the radial port and outlet groove.

7. A bearing device, comprising a rotor element and a stator element, one of said elements con stituting a supporting member for the other elezio ment with a difference in diameters not. exceeding a few thousandths of an inch, and the said stator being provided with a longitudinally extending duct for supplying a gas under pressure and with a longitudinally extending duct for supplying gas under pressure and with a lateral discharge port in its periphery in communication with said duct, whereby gas discharged from the port will separate the twoV elements and be distributed therebetween with its volume increasing progressively toward theunder side of the stator, and the coacting surface of an element being provided with a plurality of recesses to pocket the gas for aiording pneumatic cushions between the elements.

8. A bearing device, comprising a rotor element and a stator element, one of said elements constituting a supporting member for the other element with a difference in diameters not exceeding a few thousandths of an inch, and the said stator being provided with a longitudinally extending duct for supplying a gas under pressure and with 'a longitudinally extending duct for supplying gas under pressure and with a lateral discharge port in its periphery in communication with said duct, and the periphery of the stator having a longitudinal groove receiving gas from said port and of an area relative to the pressure of the gas to lift the rotor slightly oi the stator, said port discharging therein at one side of the median line of the groove, whereby gas discharged from the port will separate the two elements and be distributed therebetween with its volume increasing progressively toward the under side of the stator, and effect rotation of the rotor element.

9. A bearing device, comprising a rotor element and a stator element, one of said elements constitutng a supporting member for the other element with a difference in diameters not exceeding a few thousandths of an inch, and the said stator being provided with a longitudinally extending duet for supplying a gas under pressure and with a longitudinally extending duct for supplying gas under pressure and with a lateral discharge port in its periphery in communication with said duct, and the periphery of the stator having a longitudinal groove receiving gas from said port and vof an area relative to the pressure of the gas to lift the rotor slightly off the stator and the one wall of the distributing groove being at a level below that of the other wall thereof, whereby gas discharged from the port will separate the two elements and be distributed therebetween with its volume increasing progressively toward the under side of the stator and eiect rotation of the rotor element.

l0. A bearing device, comprising a cylindrical rotor element and a cylindrical stator element. the one enveloping the other and one of said elements constituting a supporting member for the other element, the internal diameter of the enveloping element not exceeding the external diameter ofthe enveloped element by more than a few thousandths of an inch, and the said stator being provided with a longitudinally extending duct for supplying a gas at its periphery and at one side only with a waste gas outlet angularly displaced therefrom and in communication with an area of lower pressure than that in the space between said elements and which outlet is of sufcient size to prevent the equalization of air pressure within such latter space.

1l. A bearing device, comprising a rotor element and a stator element, one of said elements constituting a supporting member for the other element with a difference in diameters not exceeding a few thousandths of an inch, and the said stator being provided with a longitudinally extending duct for supplying a gas at its periphery and at one side only with a waste gas outlet below the longitudinal axis of said stator element, which is so correlated inside to the free space between the longitudinal surfaces of said elements at the most contracted portion of said space above the bottom of the inner element as to prevent the setting up of back-pressure and thereby insuring a differential of pressure on the top and bottom of the inner element.

12. A bearing device, comprising a rotor element and a stator element, one of said elements constituting a supporting member for the other element with a diierence in diameters not exceeding a few thousandths of an inch, and the said stator being provided with a longitudinally extending duct for supplying a gas at its periphery and at one side only and an exhaust duct discharging at the end of one of the elements and in communication with a low pressure area less than the pressure between the longitudinal adjacent surfaces of said element for preventing equalization of gas pressure in the space surrounding the inner element whereby a gradually diminishing pressure of the discharged gas may be established toward the unsupported portion of the rotor member.

13. A bearing device, comprising a rotor element and a stator element, one of said elements constiluting a supporting member for the other element with a diierence in diameters not exceeding a few thousandths of an inch, and the said stator being provided with a longitudinally extending duct for supplying a gas at its periphery and at one side only and an exhaust duct discharging at the end of one of the elements and in communication with a low pressure area less than the pressure between the longitudinal adjacent surfaces of said element for preventing equalization of gas pressure in the space surrounding the inner element, whereby gas passing through the duct will separate the two members and be distributed therebetween with a progressive increase of Volume about the periphery of the stator.

EMIL KLAHN. 

